Hat-making machine



l. I; TRACY.

HAT MAKING MACHINB APPLICATloN FILED DEc.29, ,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Patented May 4, 1920.

v'1. J. TRACY.

HAT-MAKING MACHINE. APPLICAUON FILED Dc,29,1916.

1,339,305. A Patented May 4,1920s 2 SHEETS SHEET 2 fw VEA/roe; Err/e6 JTraCy UNITED STATES PATEN T OFFICE.

JAMES J. TRACY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

HAT-MAKING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 4, 1920.

Originalvapplicaton filed April 7, 1913il Serial No. 759,283.'A Divided and this application led December 2 9, 1916. Serial No. 139,462.

T all whom t 'may concern.'

Be it known that I, JAMES J. TRACY, a

citizen of'the United States, anda resident of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, and State of Chio, have invented a newV and usefull Improvementv in HataMaking Machines, 'of which the 'following is a speification, the principle of the invention being herein eX- plained and the best mode in which I have ,contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it 'from other inventions.

The present invention relates more particularly to an improved process, and apparatusffor use inconnection therewith, for

manufacturing felt hats. The objectof the invention is to simplify the operation of forming, that is of blocking felt hats, and at 'the same time render possible lthe production lit) till

of a machine-made product that will present certain desirable qualities now secured only by the old 'process of hand blocking over wooden blocks. 'To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out inthe claims, it being understood that the kmethod aspect of the invention forms the subjectv matter of a separate application (since issued intoPatentNo.l 1,214,846, un-

der date of February 6, 1917), out of which the present case has been required to be divided.

Thegannexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanicalforms in which theprinciple of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings 3 is a sectional view of a portion of the 4machine with the parts shown in a different operative position from that shown in Fig.

1; Fig. 4 illustrates a modification in con-A struction of one of the members of the machine; and Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate still other modifications of the same member.

The general'nframe 1 ofthe machine presents no unusualv features of -construction, such framev serving kto support the forming apparatus proper, consisting principally of a stationary member 2 and amovable member 3.

11, serving normally to retain the form or lmold 8 in the'raised position illustrated in Fig. 3. This mold 3 is hollow, and means are provided for heating its interior, such means consisting either of a gas burner 12, as shown in Fig. 1, or steam connections, suitably disposed within the same. y

'lhe Vstationary member 2 of the forming apparatus proper rests on a chambered base 13 of general cylindrical form having centrai openings 14 and 15 in 'its top and bot. tom walls, respectively, the opening in its lowerwall being surrounded by a circular flange 16 which extends upwardly within the chamber' in the base, as shown. The bottom wall slopes from this flange to the outer cylindrical wall 'and is furthermore fsloped (see Fig) from theone side of the chamber, where a steam-supply pipe 17 enters such outer wall, to the opposite side of such chamber,fwhere a drip pipe 18 is connected through the bottom wall. The` inner end of the steam supply pipe is provided with a downwardly bent portion 19, so' that any water of condensation entering with the steam, together with'that formed after the steam enters the chamber, will collect on the lbottom wall and run around the same to the outlet pipe 18, and there be drawn oil'. Only relatively dry steam in other words will pass upwardly above the flange 16 and through the opening 14 in the upper wall of the chambered base.

The stationary member 2 is securely clampedtothe top of the base but may be interchanged with other similar members of different forms corresponding with hats of different' styles and sizes.` The upper portion of such member 2 is provided with an opening of the same outline as the hat at the band or joint of junction of the crown with 'the brim. The portion 20 of the member orV form,as it may be called, adjacent this opening is fashioned'to give the desired shape of brim whether simply turned, rolled, or

otherwise. On the outside of the form is a circular series of pointed projections or pins 21, to which the edge of the hat being formed is attached, as will be presently described.

Connected with the opening 15 in the bottom wall of the chambered base 16 is a duct or pipe 22 leading to a suitable suction fan or force-draft blower (not shown), whereby air may be drawn, or forced, as the case may be, through such duct and through the formingmember 2 attached to its .upper end. A slide valve 23, located in the duct at a convenient point, serves to control the suction or forced blast that is applied to any Vparticular forming apparatus.

In utilizing the specific form of apparatus just described above in carrying out my improved method of hat manufacture, the lower mold member 2.is heated to the proper temperature by admitting steam through pipe 17, while the upper memberB is simultaneously heated by contact with the steam in chamber 2, or by means of the burner 12, on another steam supply pipe. 'lVith the mold parts thus heated, the hat 2l in its un-' formed condition, but having been previously sized and kept sufficiently damp and soft by placing it over a steam jet, to prevent it from becoming too stiff to handle, is slipped over the inner mold or forming member 3, while in the raised position shown in Fig. 3. Said member is then depressed. so as to force-the crown of the hat through the opening in the lower mold member 2, but before the upper member is fully seated the edge of the brim is drawn over such lower mold member and secured to the pins 21 about its entire circumference. A tape or band 25 is also desirably passed ,around the brim, after it is thus pinned fast, in order to additionally secure the same. The

upper mold member is then forced clear` but during and following the step 'just described, as the result ofwhich the hat is readily given the form of the mold part.

After the upper mold member has been seated, the air. suction, or draft, is turned on by opening valve 23, and the mold memL ber 3 thereupon raised, as soon as the crown of the hat isdry enough to retain its shape. The .air instantly carries away any steam remaining in the lower mold part, and also assists in holding the hat in place thereon where suction is used. At the same time sufficient air will be passed through the crown of the hat to rapidly cool and. dry the same, causing it to quickly set in the desiredform.

lvWith the form of construction shown in Figs. 1 and 8, the brim of the hat will require a slightly longer time to thus cool This difficulty does not arise where the hats y have a long nap or rough finish, nor where lthe air is forced through the hat. YS/lith the construction of mold part 2 shown in Fig.v 1, it is possible to have the mold part 3 perforated, so that the air may be passed through both crown and brim, whether under suction or pressure, thus rendering it unnecessary to raise such last-named ypart until the operation is complete.

Tt is also possible to arrange the apparatus so that the air may be passed in one direction through the brim and in the other direction through the crown of the hat.. This is the mode of operation for which the modification shown in Fig. 5 has been designed, wherein a separate annular-chamber 27 is provided in connection with apertures 28 in the flange, or brim-forming portion, of Ithe lower mold member 2. Air under pressure through a pipe29 is supplied to this chamber at the same time, or just after the suction is connected with the main, chamber of the mold, so that while such suction will hold the hat in place in the mold, and dry the crown of the hat, air may be blown through the brim by means of the connection to this annularchamber and the apertures leading from the upper portionof such chamber. Here again the mold-part 3 is desirably perforated in order that it may be left locked in place while the cool` ing and drying step is in progress.

,In said Fig. 5, T also show a modification in the interior construction of mold-part 2 which has been found desirable in practice. This modification consists in the provision of a second flange 30 within flange 16 and depending downwardly. By the use of two such flanges in staggered relation a more yperfect baffle is interposed in the way of any water of condensation getting into `the interior of part 3.

This mold-part 3, finally,may bemodified in construction as shown in Fig. 6, so as to provide for the securing of the hat brim thereto, instead of to the flanged edge 20 drawn therethrough, when suction is applied to the interior of the lower mold-part. The upper part is raised just a trifle from this lower part, before the application of such suction, in order that the brim, as well as the crown, may be affected thereby.

By completing the operation of forming 'the hat in the fashion above described, viz.,

by either drawing or forcing air therethrough, Iinstead of baking. the material of the hat by the dry application of a heated ,moldl as heretofore, the softness and pliability of the felt is not destroyed. This is particularly noticeable at the line of junetion between the crown and brim. At the same time an equally permanent form, or set, is given the hat when manufactured as above described, as where the prevailing method is utilized; while, with the forms of apparatus shown in Fig. 5 et Seg. a considerable increase in the rate of production is obtainable over that secured with the present method of manufacture.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention l. In mechanism of the character described, the combination of a hollow open mold member having its edge formed to the desired shape of the brim of a hat; a second mold member having the shape of the crown of such hat, and adapted to fit inthe opening in said first member; a hollow base connected with said member; a circular flange extending upwardly from the bottom' of said base.; steam supply and drain pipes, both connected with said base outside of said flange; and an air suction pipe connected with said base inside of said flange.

2.111 mechanism of the character de' scribed, the combination of a hollow open Vmold member having its edge formed to the desired shape lof the brim of a hat; a second mold member having the shape of the crown of such hat, and adapted to fit in the opening in said first member; a hollow base coni nected with said member, two circular of said :base outside of said flanges.

3. In mechanism of the character described, the combination of a hollow open mold member havingits edge formed to the desired shape of the brim of a hat; a second mold member having the shape of the crown of such hat, and adapted to fit in the opening in said first member; a hollow base connected with said member; two circular flanges, one extending downwardly from the top, the other upwardly from the bottom of said base; steam supply and drain pipes,`

both'connected with the portion of said base outside of said flanges; and an air suction pipe connected with said base inside of said upwardly extending flange.

4. In mechanism of the character described, the combination of a hollow open mold member having its edge formed to the desired shape of the brim of a hat; a second mold member having the shape of the crown of such hat, and adapted to fit in the open.

ing in said first member; a hollow base connected with said member; a circular flange extending upwardly from the bottom of said base, the, bottom wall of said base sloping from this flange to the outer wall of the base and furthermore sloping from one side of' the base to the other; steam supply and drain pipes both connected with the portion of said base outside of said flange, ksaid steam pipe being thus connected adjacent the higher portion of such bottom wall and said drain pipe, adjacent the lower portion thereof; and anair suction pipe connected with said ba'se inside of said flange.

Signed byme, this 20th day of December, 1916.

JAMES J; TRACY. 

